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If you are eligible to be claimed as a dependent, you can't contribute to an HSA, even if the person who could claim you, won't actually claim you.  See publication 969, and search for the word "dependent", its the first or second hit. https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969   Note that there are two questions on your tax return, "can you be claimed as a dependent by someone else" and "will the person who could claim you, actually claim you."  You must answer, yes, you can be claimed, if you can be, even if you won't be.   This affects several other tax provisions, not just the HSA.  (The followup question about "will you be claimed" only affects certain educational credits.)   It would be worth double-checking whether or not you will really meet all the qualifications for being claimed as a dependent.  But, if you were a full time student up through May, the only thing that would disqualify you is age (24 or older) or if you earned so much money that, considering all your income and expenses, you paid more than half your own living expenses for the year.      

It is too late for you to get the stimulus money.   Those checks were issued for tax years 2020 and 2021; the deadlines have passed to file for the recovery rebate credits for those amounts on returns for 2020 or 2021.   As for getting caught up on the back tax returns you mention ---   TurboTax provides software for past years going as far back as 2021-- no earlier years.   It is too late to get a refund for 2021 or any of those earlier tax years, but if you owe tax due, it is owed with late filing penalties and interest.   You can use paper forms to prepare those past years by hand; there might be some other tax software companies that will still let you prepare returns for 2017 up to the current year.   Or you could seek local paid tax help.   Do you even have all of the documents you will need to enter and show your income—like your W-2’s and any 1099’s?   To use TurboTax for some of the returns:   Each tax year has to be filed separately using the forms for the specific tax year.  They cannot be combined in any way--do not even put them in the same envelope when you mail them.  Software for past years is available back to 2021.  Any earlier years can only be prepared on paper forms by hand--and those refunds have been forfeited now.     You cannot change the tax year.   The current online program is for 2024 only.   Only a 2024 return can be prepared online and only a 2024 return can be e-filed.   Online preparation and e-filing for 2021, 2022, and  2023 is permanently closed. Note:  The desktop software you need to prepare the prior year return must be installed/downloaded to a full PC or Mac.  It cannot be used on a mobile device.   To file a return for a prior tax year  If you need to prepare a return for 2021, 2022, or 2023  you can purchase and download desktop software to do it, then print, sign,  and mail the return(s) https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/ You may also want to explore purchasing the software from various retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, Sam’s, etc.   Remember to prepare your state return as well—if you live in a state that has a state income tax.   https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/state-taxes/contact-state-department-revenue/L9qVToi02_US_en_US?uid=m6e06um0   When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s.  Use a mailing service that will track it, such as certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.   Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses.  Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.    

TurboTax does not support tax years prior to 2021. It is to late to file for the 2020 or 2021 stimulus payments.  You had to file a 2021 tax return for the 2021 stimulus on or before April 15, 2025.   Check your IRS account to see if the stimulus payment was sent - https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-account-for-individuals   You can get a free transcript of a tax return from the IRS - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript   For a fee of $30 you can get a complete federal tax return to include copies of W-2's, if you mailed the tax return and included a paper W-2, from the IRS by completing Form 4506 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

I assume that you already have your batchelor’s degree so you are not eligible for American Opportunity Credit and the expenses you mentioned are not qualified education expenses for the Lifetime Learning Credit. 

So the insurance plan that my employer offers automatically includes an HSA account. If I open the HSA account, but make 0 contributions until I am HSA eligible, will it still be ok to have the account?

  To check on regular tax refund status via automated phone, call 800-829-1954.   Federal and state refunds come from completely separate entities.  There is no rule as to which one will come in first or how long it will be between their arrival in your account.   TurboTax gives you an estimated date for receiving your refund based on a 21 day average from your date of acceptance, but it can take longer.  “21 days”  is not a promise from TurboTax or the IRS.      First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted:  https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/   Once your federal return has been accepted by the IRS, only the IRS has any control.  TurboTax does not receive any updates from the IRS. Your ONLY source of information about your refund now is the IRS.     You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 35a of your 2024 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:    https://www.irs.gov/refunds   To track your state refund:     https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/track-state-refund/L3jgO8PGs_US_en_US?uid=lt447ebr   If you chose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, that will take some extra time, while the third party bank handles the refund processing     https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/refunds-take-longer-others/L14YlqFrH_US_en_US?uid=lexdr7zh . https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/irs-refund-taking-longer-21-days/L2vRAJbdU_US_en_US?uid=lexe7lst       Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday When calling the IRS do NOT choose the first option re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line. So after first choosing your language, then do NOT choose Option 1 (refund info). Choose option 2 for "personal income tax" instead. Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment". Then press 3 "for all other questions." Then press 2 "for all other questions." - When it asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, don't enter anything. - After it asks twice, you will get another menu. Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions. Then press 3 for all other inquiries It should then transfer you to an agent.        

Use the same account and user ID that you used when you began to prepare the return.  You might need to click on "Add a State" to get back in to the return.  You do not really have to add a state, but that trick will let you back in so that you can finish preparing the return and go through the steps of the FILE section in order to e-file.   You can still e-file a 2024 return until October 15, 2025.   Did you forget how to access your account?   Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them.  Log out of the account you are in now.     https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/many-intuit-accounts-turbotax/L9aVfKS1Z_US_en_US?uid=ll5g6zcx Account Recovery       In order to e-file, you have to go through all of the steps of the FILE section until you click a big orange button that says "Transmit my returns now."   Until you click that orange button, your return has not been filed.

Federal and state refunds come from completely separate entities.  There is no rule as to which one will come in first or how long it will be between their arrival in your account.   Once your federal return has been accepted by the IRS, only the IRS has any control.  TurboTax does not receive any updates from the IRS. Your ONLY source of information about your refund now is the IRS.     You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 35a of your 2024 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:    https://www.irs.gov/refunds  

Email is not one of the ways to contact customer support.   Phone support is not provided with the Free Edition.  If you are using a paid version of the software or if you purchased PLUS you can get phone support when customer support is there.  Otherwise, post your question here and someone will try to help.   To call TurboTax customer support https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/contact-turbotax/L2y9ZKpQB_US_en_US?uid=m5s9l2vh   https://twitter.com/TeamTurboTax or https://www.facebook.com/turbotax    

  You have to access your own account and/or  print it for yourself using exactly the same account and user ID that you used when you prepared the return.    https://myturbotax.intuit.com/   Start a 2024 return online and enter some personal information  so that the menu on the left opens up and lets you access your past year returns.  You do not have to complete or file the 2024 return.   https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/27010     https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/save-2021-turbotax-online-return-pdf/L8dHfRkpT_US_en_US?uid=m5y4ch1y   Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them.  Log out of the account you are in now.     https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/many-intuit-accounts-turbotax/L9aVfKS1Z_US_en_US?uid=ll5g6zcx Account Recovery     Or did you use the desktop version of TurboTax?  If so, the files are on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive.     https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/find-last-year-tax-data-file-tax-file-computer/L0XJvPaJr_US_en_US?uid=m6gufxei     https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/data-systems/find-tax-data-file-mac/L4VNGm33S_US_en_US?uid=m6guhab0 You can get a free transcript from the IRS or for a fee of $30, an actual copy of your tax return. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf       SAVE YOUR TAX RETURNS ! EVERY year before mid-October you should save a copy of your tax return as a pdf and print a copy of it for your records.  That way you will not be searching online frantically when you need it for a lender, FAFSA forms, your next tax return, etc.    https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/save-2021-turbotax-online-return-pdf/L8dHfRkpT_US_en_US?uid=m6guj526   https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/save-2021-turbotax-online-return-pdf/L8dHfRkpT_US_en_US?uid=m78eb8pc In order to transfer a past year return to the new return you need the tax file   https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/save-turbotax-online-return-tax-data-file/L4xwOG3LF_US_en_US?uid=m6guk3xl   NOTE:  TurboTax and the IRS save returns for seven years.  Returns older than seven years are purged.